LEAD WITHOUT A TITLE

Thanks to my client Manoj Narayanan of Seven Ocean Logistics, Dubai, I had the privilege of attending the Robin Sharma talk in Chennai on 2nd March 2014 on "Lead without a title".  It was a fantastic speech filled with lot of punch lines and useful tips.  It was a power packed and every effective speech.

I have listed below the 100 sentences that I picked up in the speech which I feel is useful for all:

1.     Leadership is all about how superbly you perform when no one is watching
2.     Only two things matter at the end – who you became and how many people you helped
3.     The most important job of a leader is to grow more leaders
4.     Leadership is all about growing more leaders
5.     Your competitive advantage is growing leaders at all levels faster
6.     Leadership is all about three things: Inspiration, Influence and Impact
7.     True leadership begins with self leadership
8.     Vague vision leads to vague behaviour
9.      A job is only a job if you see it as a job.
10.     You always rise or fall to the level of your conversation
11.     To lead is to serve; to contribute; to add value and to make a difference
12.     To lead you need to be MAD (Make A Difference)
13.      No idea is going to work if you are not doing the work
14.     Bring hope to the hopeless
15.     Follow the 90:90: 1 principle to succeed.  90 minutes of focused attention for 90 days on a singular objective.
16.      The essence of genius is simplicity
17.      An addiction to distraction is the death of a creative mind
18.     Brain’s focus should be on “Alpha State”
19.      Dream Big, Start Small and Act Now.
20.      Leadership is a mindset
21.     Your mindset is decided by triggers and cues
22.     Focus on opportunities rather than focus on problems
23.      Daily small seemingly insignificant little contributions leads to stunning results
24.     Every organisation needs a Leader who is the CIO of the Company – Chief Inspirational Officer
25.     Steve Jobs asked his design team to sign the circuit board.  His father told him “Son paint the inside of the fence as we will see it”.
26.      When you go to the edge of your limits, your limits expand.
27.      Go to where your fear lives, that is where your power lies
28.      When you lean into your fear, you commit to the mountain
29.      Seduction of safety is more dangerous than the perception of uncertainty
30.      Are you passionate about what you are doing or are you exhausted
31.      Ideation without execution is no more than delusion
32.     Are you part of the 95% of the society who lead a mechanical, repetitive life or the 5% who are always busy learning new skills
33.     5 per centers do things so different to stay in the 5%
34.     Ordinary people make excuses and extraordinary people make a difference
35.      Get up at 5 a.m. every day if you want to be a leader
36.      Genius is 10% talent and 90% discipline
37.      Genius is earned and not gifted to us
38.      Aim for Genius and exude passion in whatever you do
39.     Grit is all about Practice, Persistence and Focus
40.      Failure is the price genius pays for greatness
41.      You need to follow the “10 year rule” to become an expert
42.      A person who sweats more in practice will bleed less in a war.
43.      Invest in coaching and training
44.      Failure is greatness waiting to happen
45.      Have one conversation at a time and focus on one thing at a time.
46.      Business is a conversation.  If you lose a conversation you lose your business
47.     Your job is your craft and your life is your art.  Be Yourself.
48.      Less Ego will lead to more leadership and more mastery
49.      Leave the club of mediocrity and join the cult of mastery
50.     Do the best; none is perfect; be proud of your work; do not worry about title; do not retire; enjoy what you do
51.       Avoid the arrogance of success.  Do not rest on your laurels
52.      The humblest is the greatest
53.      Customer has a choice but a fan doesn’t.  Build a fan and create a fan not a customer
54.      Give ten times value to your customer so that they turn into your fan
55.      At every touch point of user experience give ten times value
56.      Better awareness leads to smarter choices and hence better results
57.      There has to be a mighty “WHY” to guide your life
58.      A potential that is unexpressed will turn into pain
59.      Every visionary was first ridiculed
60.     Clarity is Power
61.     No one will ever forget how you made them feel
62.      “Change” is hard at first; messy in the middle but beautiful at the end
63.     You can develop your brain and increase brain power – proved by the London Taxi Drivers
64.      Do different things – e.g. read a difficult book
65.      After 90 minutes of intense work take a 10 minute rest
66.      Every week for one day do not engage in any work
67.      Get grateful, this day comes only once in your life
68.      Don’t be successful but alone
69.     To double your earning, triple your learning
70.      Practice the art of “no excuses and no complaints”
71.      Risk more than is required
72.      Learn more than is normal
73.      Speak your truth
74.      Live your values
75.      Constantly aim for genius but stay humble
76.      Be kinder than expected
77.      Deliver more than is needed
78.      Shatter your limits
79.      Transcend your fears
80.      Inspire others by your bigness
81.      Less ego more humility
82.     Be on time
83.      Keep your promises
84.      Listen and be present
85.      Look people in their eyes and use their name
86.     The fastest way to change yourself is to hangout with people who are already the way you   want to be
87.     The goal isn’t to live forever.  The goal is to create something that will
88.      Transform your fitness to transform your career
89.      Victims love entertainment, leaders love education
90.      Real wealth is peak health
91.      Life’s short.  Be of use
92.      Adore mastery
93.      Remember that words have power
94.      Be strong
95.      Build a beautiful lifestyle
96.      Smile
97.      Say “Please” and “Thank you”
98.      Be likeable
99.      Change the world around you
100.      Lead without a title

     All the best.

     Regards,

     T.P.Anand

     Dubai, U.A.E.

     31st March 2014

SHOLAY 3D

I saw Sholay in 3D and it was a mesmerizing 3 hours 25 minutes of non-stop entertainment.  The film is so fresh and the story line and the screenplay is so intriguing.  Though I have seen the film several times in the past it was still very entertaining and enjoyable.

The characterisation and the depiction of these characters by the legendary actors and actresses is so good. The line up of artistes in this film is very impressive:

1. Sanjeev Kumar as the tough police officer - Thakur Saab
2. Dharmendra as the enthusiastic Veeru
3. Amitabh Bachan as the quiet and composed Jay
4. Jaya Bachan as the quiet Bhahu Raani of Sanjeev Kumar
5. Hemamalini as the talkative Basanthi
6. Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh
7. Satyan Kapoor as the loyal servant of Sanjiv Kumar
8. A.K.Hangal as the Muslim Priest
9. Jagdeep as the Timber Merchant - Soorma Bhopali
10. Asrani as the Jailer Saab
11. Kestoo Mukherjee as the informer
12. Ifthikar as the father of Jaya Bhaduri

Each has a very clearly defined role and every single character stands out and stays in memory.  I would reckon this as one of the best made films in Indian Cinema and should get rated as one of the best films ever made.

In such a short role Asrani provides so much of laughter with his walk, dialogue and style.

How can we forget Soorma Bhopali character:

Sanjeev Kumar has done a fabulous job in the role of Thakur and he has always been a very good actor. Amjad Khan made a dream debut with his role as Ghabbar Singh:

While the actors like Sanjeev Kumar, Hemamalini, Amjad Khan and Asrani stood out as unforgettable performances, we also had a treat of so many good songs by legendary Music Director R.D.Burman.

Yeh Dosthi ham nahi chodenge - song on friendship which is so popular over the last four decades.

Mehbooba Mehbooba (helen's dance)

Koyi Hasina Jab (one of the best fast songs)

Aa Jab Thak he jaan (superb dance by Hemamalini)

The song sequences are captured very well and the music is so fresh even now.  Sholay will remain a hot favourite film for several years to come.  It is a perfectly blended masala film which will remain a hit for ever.

T.P.Anand

Chennai, India

3rd March 2014